Earlier this year we asked for help finding somewhere to store our Santa Sleigh for the year. We would like to say a huge THANK YOU to Haines Construction (Southern) who have generously offered our sleigh a home.
We are truly grateful and Santa has added you to his nice list!!
Brilliant
Well done Haine’s Construction Southern ❤️
Thank you to all those who generously supported our Marie Curie collection in town and at Tesco yesterday.
We are out again today, collecting for such an important charity, working with and for those when they need it most.
Calne Lions have a busy few days, ahead, serving our local and wider community.
Some of our members are out today and tomorrow collecting for Marie Curie - just look out for our bright tabards and fetching top hats!
Tomorrow we are hosting our Prostate Screening event at the showroom next to Tesco. We are fully booked for this event but if you were unable to book an appointment this time around, we are already looking ahead to see if we could offer another screening in the autumn.
#CalneLions #WeServe
Are you part of a local Community Group or a Charity?
Calne Lions Duck Race is taking place on Saturday 16th May and we still have a few pitches left for Community and Charity Stalls.
Stalls are £25 per pitch and will be based on The Wharf Gardens & Pocket Park.
If you want to snap up one of these pitches before they sell out, please head to our online Duck Shop - www.calnelions.org/duck-race
What time is the duck race please
Calne Lions Duck Race returns on Saturday 16th May 2026.
Our online ticket shop is now open at www.calnelions.org/duck-race
Tickets cost £2 each and if the duck with your ticket number is one of the top 3 to cross the line on the day, you will win a cash prize.
1st Prize = £250
2nd Prize = £150
3rd Prize = £75
We will also be out an about in April and May selling tickets. Don't miss out on a chance to win and support Calne Lions!
QUACK!
Our online duck shop is now open for entries to our "Big Duck" races on 16th May.
Business Duck Race - entry costs £35* and is open to any business who would like to support Calne Lions and advertise their company.
Ducklings Race - entry costs £10* and is open to any youth organisation, school or nursery.
*First time entries are given a duck as part of their entry. Returning entrants reuse their existing duck (if a replacement is needed, there is an additional charge of £6).
We look forward to welcoming ducks old and new to our 2026 flock!
At our general meeting on Tuesday we were pleased to badge up John & Ann as new members of Calne Lions. They have helped with Santa for the last few years and decided they wanted to join the Club. Welcome to Calne Lions!
Calne Lions do great work - we all give to them as they seem to use their donations wisely to do good work. Are your accounts available for public viewing by the way? It would be interesting to see how our donations are being spent.
Welcome to the family of Lions, John and Ann.
Great to see this! 🤩
Enjoy your time with the Lions xx
Last week Calne Lions President, Alison and Secretary, Lion Les visited the Independent Living Centre in Semington.
This excellent charity run centre offers free consultations to anyone in the area looking for help with equipment and technology, which will enable them to retain their independence.
You can make an appointment to see an occupational therapist, who will assess your needs, offer advice and then help you to try out their whole array of equipment to work out what best suits you.
From easy phones, kitchen and bathroom aids, through to electric scooters and stairlifts - they can show you what is available.
Visit the website - ilc.org.uk for more information or phone 01380 871007
Our online Duck Shop is now open!
If you would like to purchase a Business Duck or a Duckling (for children's groups, schools and nurseries) or you are a community group or charity and would like an outdoor pitch on either the Wharf Gardens or Pocket Park then follow the link below.
www.calnelions.org/duck-race/
Jasmin Campion
Yesterday Calne Lions held a skittles event at the Rec to say thank you to our wonderful volunteers who joined us on the streets in December, escorting Santa and spreading the Christmas cheer!
It was a brilliant well-attended afternoon, with lots of laughs had by all. Thank you to all who attended and thank you again for volunteering with Santa (you are already on his nice list for this year!)
Quack!! The Ducks are coming!!
We are working on our Duck Shop and will let you know as soon as it is up and running and ready for tickets, "Big Duck" race entries and Stall pitch purchases.
For now, save the date - Saturday 16th May!!
When will you be open for outdoor stall applications? ☺️
Santa is back at the North Pole for a well earned rest, however Calne Lions still have his sleigh. The past few years it has been sat outside, open to the elements which have taken their toll on the sleigh.
We need to find somewhere undercover to store it until it is needed in December. The sleigh is quite tall, so wherever it is stored will need a high roof. We will also need to be able to access the sleigh, throughout the year, so we can do some repairs and upgrades.
Do you have a barn or large garage with space to house our sleigh?
If you think you can help, please contact Santa@calnelions.org
Leigh Blackman do you know of a space?
easier said then done i know but i think your best bet will be possibly a farmer… see if they have some space under a shelter etc
Try Scotland
This Friday, there is an over 55s Daytime Disco being held in Calne Town Hall.
Calne Lions were pleased to be able to support this event. So get your dancing shoes out and enjoy some company and good tunes!
With the New Year, many people's minds turn to re-evaluating their health and making resolutions to make positive changes.
1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. This disease often does not have symptoms at first, which makes early detection difficult. Regular PSA tests can help to highlight changes which may need further early investigation.
We have limited spaces left for our upcoming Prostate Screening event in March. Tests have been subsidised by Calne Lions and now only cost £10. Booking is essential as we cannot accept walk ins on the day.
For more information see the poster below or head to www.calnelions.org/prostate-screening
On the 12th day of Christmas Calne Lions gives their thanks to the people of Calne.
Although Calne Lions members happily give many hours of volunteering time over the year, we would still not be able to do all that we do without the unfailing support from our community.
Without you coming out to see Santa & making a donation, buying a Duck Race ticket, entering a Big Duck into our Business & Duckling Races, or buying food from our Burger Van, we simply would not have the money to have made a phenomenal £22,333.75 worth of donations and grants in 2025.
If your school, youth group, community group or organisation is in need of help this year, please contact communitysupport@calnelions.org
Wow!! That’s an amazing amount! Fantastic
Well done for all your hard work lions. The money is appreciated by many different groups.
Well done all the Lions, you are a great assett in our town.
Well done and thank you
Amazing.well done
Amazing work! Well done everybody!
On the 11th day of Christmas Calne Lions gave to Children & Families.
Over the year, Calne Lions have made donations to Wiltshire Family Hub, Spurgeons and Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. We also funded 150 Christmas boxes from Wiltshire Scrapstore & Resource Centre to be given out to children in 3 local primary schools.
On the 10th Day of Christmas Calne Lions gave to Adult Social Groups.
Calne Lions have supported Heart of Community & Wiltshire Phab Club 16-40. We have helped to fund Age UK Wiltshire's upcoming Daytime Disco and throughout the year our volunteers drive and escort our friends to their fortnightly Kennet Gateway Club, over in Woodborough.
On the 9th day of Christmas Calne Lions gave to Local Community Groups & Clubs.
Calne has so many brilliant clubs & groups we are pleased to support. This year we have given grants to Calne Men's Shed (it's not just for men), The Reconnecting Group, Calne Methodist Church, Forget Me Not Club and Calne Bereavement Group.
Thank you so much it helps fund extra activities for our members. Calne Forget Me Not Club
On the 8th day of Christmas Calne Lions gave to local Sports Teams.
Calne Lions were happy to sponsor Calne Town Under 14s football shirts, help fund Derry Hill Girls Football Tournament and support Derry Hill Under 18s Football Team.
😂😂😂😂 Lions Club... Criticisms of Lions Clubs often center on internal culture issues like politics, gossip, and resistance to change, hindering member engagement, especially for younger generations. Specific complaints include an "old boys' club" feel, lack of diversity in leadership, poor treatment of employees, inflexible structures, high fees, and difficulties attracting new members due to public misunderstanding or an antiquated image. Internal Culture & Leadership: Politics & Gossip: Allegations of internal power struggles, jealousy, and negativity, with leaders sometimes accused of not resolving issues or fostering blame. Outdated Structures: Perceived as stuck in the past (e.g., 1980s), with resistance to new ideas from younger members, leading to stagnation. Lack of Diversity: Leadership roles are often seen as dominated by white individuals, despite member complaints and the organization's global mission. Toxic Leadership: Leaders holding grudges or failing to mentor new members can create a culture that pushes younger Lions away. Membership & Recruitment: "Old Boys' Club" Image: A perception that it's for older members, making recruitment difficult for younger demographics (Millennials, Gen Z). Recruitment Challenges: Difficulty asking people to join due to intimidation or fear of rejection; some members feel they are not effectively showing the joy of service. High Fees/Time Commitment: Costs and perceived demands can deter potential members in tight economic times. Organizational Issues: Employee Treatment: Some employees report poor management, retaliation for reporting issues, and unfair treatment, contrasting with the humanitarian mission. Misunderstanding the Mission: The public often doesn't know what Lions Clubs do, confusing them with other groups (e.g., selling brooms). Internal Politics & Drama: Some members leave due to infighting, with some creating new clubs after conflicts.
Wishing all our Community, Friends and Members a very Happy New Year!
Thank you for your support in 2025, looking forward to an amazing year to come.
